Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Stress On Diet, Sleep, And Exercise Amongst College Students, Jessica Rizzo

Senior Honors Projects

Stress is something that everyone faces in their lifetime and has an everlasting impact on their health. College students face high levels of stress throughout the semester, but how is that impacting their behavior? I conducted a survey alongside Dr. Melanson, a professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, to see just how college students are reacting to stress. The survey was circulated to different departments and classes to achieve a widespread collection of data. The survey remained completely anonymous and posed questions about eating, exercise, and sleep habits, along with questions on demographics and stress levels. Our …

The Impact Of Deep Brain Stimulation On Speech And Swallowing In Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Julia Gluck

Senior Honors Projects

Each year, according to parkinson.org, approximately 60,000 people in the US are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). PD is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the portion of the brain called the Substantia Nigra. Symptoms of PD include resting tremors, muscle rigidity, and speech difficulties regarding articulation and vocal quality. There is no cure for PD, however, pharmaceutical, behavioral, and surgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be used to treat symptoms of PD. Although there is a significant amount of research regarding the effects of DBS in patients with PD, there is little evidence describing …

Reflections On North Texas Ob-Gyn Internship, Catherine Beachner

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis provides a personal reflection on a nurse internship with North Texas Ob-Gyn Associations located in Lewisville, Texas. An evaluation of the internship was conducted by providing a description of the position, analyzing the internship, and outlining a pertinent patient case study. The responsibilities for this position mainly included assisting the doctor during appointments. An extensive range of skills were gained through the experience, including developing confidence in interactions with patients and learning physical tasks. The focus of the honors project was overall learning, which occurred through completion of learning goals, and the goals of the internship were fully …

Benefits Of Infant-Driven Feeding In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Literature Review, Maddison Carroll

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Current policy in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) is to prescribe a volume of formula or milk to ingest a certain number of times per day to infants admitted to the NICU. The method of infant-driven feeding (IDF) is believed to be a superior alternative that allows the infants to determine the timing and volume consumed and leads to better patient outcomes. To be considered in this review, the studies were required to be primary sources that were peer- reviewed, conducted in the last five years, and had to include at least one of three outcomes: weight gain, time to …

Reflections On R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Internship, Brea Keiser

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis provides a personal reflection on an internship with the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Organization through S.T.A.R. Central at the University of Arkansas. An evaluation of the experience was conducted by providing strengths and weaknesses as an intern, positive and negative aspects of the internship, an objective analysis, connection to nursing, and impact on future career. The focus of this honors project was providing education to peers on sexual assault topics, including consent, rape culture, and bystander intervention. Overall, the internship proved to be a positive learning opportunity that allowed for the development of improved communication skills, gaining of knowledge and passion …

Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding And Infants Support Internship, Lacey Schroeder

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusk Breastfeeding and Infant Support is an organization that provides resources to families at public Razorback events. Tiny Tusks provides a safe space for women to breastfeed in public as well as educate the community about the importance of breastfeeding. Women are allowed to use the space to breastfeed, pump, or use a clean diaper changing station. Once finished, they are asked to complete a survey pertaining to their experience and what they would have done if the resources provided by Tiny Tusks were not available. The stigma surrounding public breastfeeding is discouraging women from breastfeeding exclusively, which is …

Family-Centered Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sarah Brown

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Family-centered care has not always been integrated with patient-care. In the mid-1900's, a movement began that altered the role of the family from observer to participant. With the help of family advocates, inclusive practices and partnerships between families, patients, and providers was initiated (Kuo et al, 2012). Now, family and patient-centered care is a widely practiced form of individualized care and relationship building between families, patients and their providers. Five principles shape the foundation for family-centered care. These include information sharing, respect and honoring differences, partnership and collaboration, negotiation, and care in the context of family and community (Kuo et …

Community Health Nursing In Ghana: Respiratory Illnesses, Paige Deffenbaugh

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

As part of a service learning experience, I researched unique risk factors for developing respiratory illnesses in Ghana, Africa. Then, during a study abroad trip to Ghana, I taught groups of women about their high likelihood of exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuels, how it contributes to the development of respiratory illnesses, and ways to minimize their smoke exposure. All of this education was done with the aim of preventing the development of respiratory illnesses in people of Ghana, as well as minimizing the number of premature deaths attributable to indoor air pollution from solid fuels.

Reflections On Texas Back Institute Internship, Shelby Jones

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

For my honors project, I chose to do the experimental option to gain more knowledge on topics that we do not spend much time covering in nursing school. I had the privilege to complete an internship with the Texas Back Institute, their main office is located in Plano, Texas. I worked closely the Scoliosis and Spine Tumor Center that is a branch of their team, and completed my internship from May to the first week of August 2019. I worked 20 hours a week during my internship between the clinic and the hospital. I was able to observe physicians in …

Cellular Basis Of Missense Variants Causing Familial Hypercholesterolemia In Uae, Aseel Adnan Jawabri

Biochemistry Theses

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carrying cholesterol in the blood. FH is mainly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) which causes altered lipid metabolism. LDLR is synthesized and initially modified by glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transferred to the plasma membrane by Golgi to carry out LDL clearance from the bloodstream. Defective LDLR can, therefore, lead to increased levels of LDL in the blood which may lead to atherosclerosis and premature coronary artery diseases.

For the past few years, cardiovascular diseases have …

The Effect Of Dance Movement Therapy On The Mood Of Hospitalized Psychiatric Adolescents, Amy Chiu

Nursing | Senior Theses

Mental illness in children has increased over all aspects throughout the years to right now (CDC, 2019). Many of these children do get treatment for these disorders but there are still a percent that do not receive any treatment or find effective ways to maintain non-pharmaceutical alternatives for mood stabilization. The alternative therapies that are introduced in hospital settings plays a role in allowing for alternative therapies to be apart of the treatment plan for patients. Dance Movement therapy (DMT) is an alternative therapy that uses movement to conduct change in patient’s emotions based on their own choices of movement …

The Effect Of The Timing Of A Hospice Referral And The Perceived Quality Of Care By The Family, Caitlin Tran

Nursing | Senior Theses

Hospice care is a specialized type of palliative care for patients with a time-limiting illness. Despite its benefits, hospice remains underutilized. A key reason behind the underutilization are untimely referrals, often made during the last weeks or days of the patient’s life. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existing barriers towards hospice that play into late referrals and its effect on patient/family satisfaction. This information will be examined to propose a pilot research study for further exploration.

Supporting Positive Lifestyle Changes Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Alison Tynan

Nursing | Senior Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of literature reviewed to formulate background research for a pilot study. The literature reviewed pertains to the potential benefit of added case management for patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. A proposed pilot study, based off of this research, aims to identify topics, tools, facts, and changes that can be made to case management to improve not just the biological aspects, like HbA1c levels, but the mental and emotional as well to allow for whole person care.

The primary question being asked is “what types of support do people with diabetes mellitus type 2 …

Emergency Preparedness And Perceptions Of Resident University Students: Literature Review, Study Proposal & Impact Of Pandemic Crisis On Research, Madelyn Turner

Nursing | Senior Theses

Emergency preparedness is an essential step in mitigating negative impacts of disasters, especially in an area affected by wildfires, power shutoffs, earthquakes, and flooding. Dominican University of California resides within Marin County, and has experienced emergencies in the past. Students are expected to prepare themselves to survive independently for 3-5 days. As previous research has shown, college students often do not meet this expectation. This proposed study will assess the current preparedness levels of students living on Dominican’s campus. It will also determine how perceptions of emergency readiness contribute to actual preparedness. Data collection was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, …

Participation In Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy On The Immune Function Of Survivors Of Breast Cancer: A Literature Review And Pilot Study For Clinical Practice, Bianca Marteja

Nursing | Senior Theses

A review of current literature presented in this work suggests that MBSR participation results in NKCA, T-cell and B-cell restoration as well as a reduction in inflammatory biomarkers. While results from these studies are statistically significant, they are, however, relatively small. Furthermore, the reliability and one’s ability to generalize study findings from this literature review is limited by consistently small sample sizes, high attrition, differing forms of MBSR application, and inconsistent adherence to MBSR home practices.

The distribution of a 10-point survey using likert scales occured in a pilot study associated with the aforementioned literature review; this survey evaluated registered …

Nurses' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Electronic Health Record On Clinical Decision-Making, Angela Dizon Garcia

Nursing | Senior Theses

This study explored the impact of electronic health record (EHR) use on registered nurses’ critical thinking, decision-making, and quality of care for hospitalized patients. Based on literature review, the researcher maintained a consistent definition of critical thinking and decision-making and how the use of the EHR affects these two complex yet significant processes. A descriptive survey design to assessed registered nurses’ attitudes and perceptions of how the EHR influences their clinical decision-making when caring for patients in an acute care setting. It found that nurses are aware that the EHR is beneficial, yet they often feel that electronically charting can …

Benefits Of Nonpharmacological And Pharmacological Treatments In Autistic Children, Amanda Cheng

Nursing | Senior Theses

Autism is a disorder that affects one in 59 children in the United States. The spectrum disorder affects individuals in early childhood and daily functioning. They may display limited spontaneous language and play and have difficulty in processing social messages. The literature review examines the benefits of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The proposed study will be guided by the phenomenology theory. Based on this theory, semi-structured interviews will focus on caregiver’s perceptions of their children’s reactions, needs, and care in healthcare settings. The literature review reveals how certain interventions and treatments have helped …

Hospitalization And Child Development: Effects On Sleep, Developmental Stages, And Separation Anxiety, Vanessa Cahayag

Nursing | Senior Theses

Childhood development has been an important topic for those in the medical field, as well as parents. The way a child develops can determine the way they act, think, and mature. Hospitalizations, acute and chronic, may affect the process of proper child development. Literature is reviewed to support the presented pilot study that focuses on the immediate effects of hospitalization on a child’s sleep disturbances, regression to lower developmental stages, and separation anxiety. The collected data determined the need for refinement of the survey tool and presented with possible correlations between hospitalizations and childhood development.

Covid-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Adolescent Girls In Bangladesh: Concept Note, Sajeda Amin

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The Population Council COVID-19 study team is implementing rapid phone-based surveys of a representative sample of girls living in the catchment area of two skills-building programs. The two programs (one with UNFPA, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; and the second with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education/DSHE) are affiliated with the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage. The overall goal of the programs is to prevent child marriage. The rapid assessment will explore how the pandemic and associated lockdown is changing girls' experience of schooling, time use, care responsibilities and household scarcity as mediating …

The Influence Of Undergraduate Research Assistant Experiences On Future Nursing Roles, Kelsy Mitchell, Julie Rekiere, Jane S. Grassley

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Undergraduate nursing students have difficulty comprehending the relevance of research to their future as nurses. Working as an undergraduate research assistant may provide opportunities to develop an appreciation of research. The purpose of this study was to explore former undergraduate research assistants' perceptions of their experience and its effects on their practice as professional nurses. This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Seven former undergraduate research assistants were interviewed. Interview transcripts were analyzed for themes using content analysis. Data analysis yielded three main themes: immersion in the research process, empowered to practice evidence-based nursing, and future …

Protein Availability And Consumption, And Stunting Rates, For Primary School Children In The Southern Regions Of Ethiopia And Zambia, Megan Wackel

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

•Stunting is common in Sub-Sahara Africa, with millions of children who are short in stature also experiencing poor overall health and development, as well as poor school performance (Semba 2016; Semba, et al., 2016). •As many as 39% of children under 5 years of age in Ethiopia’s Sidama Region (formerly SNNPR) can be classified as stunted (CSA & ICF 2016). By comparison, 29% of under 5’s in Zambia’s Southern Province have short height for age (CSA, MOH, & ICF 2018). •Low protein and essential amino acid intake, among populations of 116 countries, has been suggested as the primary cause of …

The Impact Of Location On Healthcare Access For Individuals With Disabilities, Addison Kimber

Honors Scholar Theses

This paper analyzes healthcare access for individuals with disabilities living in rural areas. In current political discussion, we typically think of insurance coverage as the metric to analyze healthcare access. However, as demonstrated by studies of healthcare in the United Kingdom, people with disabilities continue to face barriers to health care even with universal healthcare systems. In particular, individuals in rural areas have less healthcare access than urban residents. This is due to factors including socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, access to competent care, and transportation. This study aims to understand if disability status exacerbates the issue of access in rural …

Pre-Exercise Hydration Status Changes In Females Throughout The Menstrual Cycle, Kristen A. Splaine

Honors Scholar Theses

In the field of athletics, research including females is limited. Oftentimes, research that only included male subjects is generalized and is later used to incorporate guidelines for both male and female athletes. This study focused on how the menstrual cycle, a female exclusive bodily process, could change hydration status. Participants within the study were between the ages of 18 and 35 and only data from females was analyzed. The study was designed as a crossover subject trial over the span of two months. Subjects participated in a total of four trials that were divided into phase-hydration groups. Two trials were …

Intersectionality, Access, And Women’S Health: Engaging And Enacting A Feminist Model Of Health Care, Nidhi Chawla

Honors Scholar Theses

“Intersectionality, Access, and Women’s Health: Engaging and Enacting a Feminist Model of Health Care” takes seriously the potential role feminist theory can play in the making of a more accessible and effective model of medical care. In terms of theory and methodology, this thesis draws upon Kimberlė Crenshaw’s influential notion of “intersectionality” as a means of mapping multiple identities and subjectivities; as an additional lens, the thesis accesses Audre Lorde’s insistence that one cannot rely on established systems as the basis for progressive politics. Consistent with the reflexive dynamics of intersectional feminism, and guided by the notion that the personal …

Effects Of Lisdexamfetamine And Haloperidol On A Binge-Like Eating Model & Preliminary Investigations Of The Dopaminergic Mechanism Underlying Binge Eating Disorder (Bed), Maxime Braun

Honors Scholar Theses

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a psychophysiological disorder defined as the excessive intake of high-caloric, palatable foods within a short span of time, accompanied by feelings of distress. Animal models of binge-like eating behavior have been developed that give intermittent, limited access to a highly palatable food. Presby et al. (2020) used chocolate as the highly palatable food to induce binge-like eating behavior in rats. Lisdexamfetamine (LDX), a d-amphetamine prodrug and dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitor, is currently used to treat BED in humand. In rats, binge-like eating of chocolate was induced by exposure to unpredictable and limited chocolate access over …

Amygdala And Neocortical Structural Volume Analysis In The Shank3b Mutant Mouse Model Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Preet Sawhney

Honors Scholar Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by abnormal social behavior, deficits in communication, and motor stereotypy. The SHANK3 gene, responsible for the generation of a scaffolding protein that is integral for the development of synapses, has been identified as one of the primary candidate genes implicated in the disorder. Shank3B is the rodent homolog for this gene. Research has shown that when this gene is disrupted in rodent models (e.g., via knock-out (KO)), ASD-like behaviors result. These include deficits in social interaction, increased anxiety, and repetitive self-grooming. The current study aimed to identify a physiological …

Sexual Health Assessments In Nursing Practice: Quantitative Analysis Of Nurses’ Behaviors And Perceptions, Allison Culp

Honors Theses

Sexual health is an important yet often neglected component of patient care. Most research on sexual health assessment and its place in nursing occurred from the 1970s to the early 2000s, leaving a gap in understanding nurses’ current attitudes and beliefs toward assessing patients’ sexual health. Frequencies by which sexual health assessments (SHA) are performed by nurses today is also unknown. The objective of this study was to provide an updated understanding of attitudes, beliefs, and practices of nurses regarding SHA. An online-based Likert-scale survey was administered via social media platforms for professional nurses to complete. Results indicate that nurses …

Overcoming Barriers To The Implementation Of Early Warning Systems To Reduce The Maternal Mortality Rate In The United States Of America, Emily Hopkins

Honors Theses

The United States has the highest Maternal Mortality Rate in the developed world, and it has been increasing since 1987. To combat this problem, researchers have developed Early Warning Systems (EWS) to identify when a woman is developing signs of a life-threatening problem during the maternal period. The goal of this research is to identify if these early warning systems are being used in U.S. hospitals, and, if not, what the best way is to implement them. Several interviews were performed with hospitals across the U.S. and the transcripts were run through the analyzing software NVivo. Each transcript will be …

Fatty Acid Mediated Alterations In Biofilm Formation With Vibrio Cholerae, Isabel Gray

Honors Theses

Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative bacterium known as a waterborne pathogen. It is often found in marine conditions and can infect humans through ingestion. V. cholerae is responsible for cholera, a disease characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting, and other dehydration symptoms. Ultimately, severe cases can cause extreme electrolyte imbalances, shock, and acute renal failure which lead to death in a short period of time. Annually, V. cholerae causes approximately 3 million cases of cholera and 100,000 deaths worldwide. V. cholerae can persist in motile and biofilm lifestyles under aquatic and host conditions, a unique biphasic lifestyle that contributes to Vibrio’s …

Recommending A Patient-Level Study To Confirm That Bcg Vaccination Accounts For The Relatively Low Covid-19 Mortality Rate In The Philippines, Amulfo P. Azcarraga

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

Medical researchers have pointed out wide differences in COVID-related death rates among countries; and several explanations have been offered such as the high number of old people in a country, number of tourists, number of immigrants, geographic location and climate, size of the population, etc. One possible explanation that deserves further study is that countries where the COVID death rate is low are those countries where mass BCG vaccination is in place, such as the Philippines. Indeed, compared to countries who have never had mass BCG vaccination, i.e. USA, Canada, Italy, Netherlands and Belgium, the death rate due to COVID-19 …